Vesna Mališić, the editor-in-chief of “Radar,” has stated that her team has obtained information indicating that a group of people who participated in the organization of Banjska have arrived in Belgrade from Kosovo. She made these remarks while discussing President Vučić’s potential strategy of creating a conflict ahead of the March 15th protests in order to introduce a state of emergency or justify police intervention.
According to Mališić, Vučić’s attempts to create a situation of conflict are evident, and she emphasizes that nothing happening in recent days, including the appearance of the disbanded JSO unit, is accidental.
She further describes how the actions taken by the government aim to convey a message before the anniversary of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić’s assassination. Mališić criticizes the use of the JSO and likens them to a “death squad” responsible for a series of notorious killings in Serbia, such as those of Ivan Stambolić and Zoran Đinđić.
Mališić also highlights the symbolic nature of the fenced-off area in Pionirski Park, asserting that the park has traditionally been a place of opposition to the government, but now it is being used by police and special forces.
The conversation shifts to a broader critique of President Vučić, whom Mališić believes has failed to win the elite’s support and is attempting to consolidate power through populist means, distancing himself from the modern, democratic vision of his predecessor Đinđić.
Mališić also discusses how Vučić’s fearmongering about potential violence in Belgrade on March 15th could serve as a pretext for declaring a state of emergency or having an excuse for police intervention. She suggests that the government is trying to manipulate the narrative, including potentially staging violence during protests.
Additionally, the “Radar” journalists in Pionirski Park have reportedly recognized individuals from criminal circles and have come to the conclusion that a group from Kosovo, involved in the Banjska incident, has come to Belgrade.
In conclusion, Mališić argues that Vučić is preparing various scenarios to manipulate the upcoming protests and create a violent narrative. She warns that the government is ignoring the message coming from the people, even those from rural areas, and says that Vučić’s reliance on criminals to influence the situation will ultimately fail.
The article closes with Mališić’s reminder that the end of the protests will come when the students decide it’s over, not when the authorities declare it so.
